TOP PROSPECTS PICK COLLEGES
Top pick Bosa among large class of signees from various Broward County high schools
See our roundup of Wednesday’s college selections by top Broward and Palm Beach county high school players. Also, columnist Dave Hyde assesses how University of Miami coach Mark Richt’s first recruiting class is shaping up, as the dust settles on National Signing Day.
FORT LAUDERDALE — St. Thomas Aquinas honored 20 football players during a National Signing Day ceremony-Wednesday afternoon that featured announcements from five-star defensive end Nick Bosa (Ohio State), four-star receiver Sam Bruce (Miami) and three-star tight end Michael Irvin II. (Miami).
It highlighted a busy opening to the signing period in Broward County, where Coconut Creek cornerback Trayvon Mullen (Clemson) and American Heritage defensive end Brian Burns (Florida State) made highly anticipated decisions.
But the biggest list of signees came from St. Thomas Aquinas, the defending Class 7A state champions.
“Since my freshman year, when [Buckeyes] coach [Urban] Meyer offered me on my birthday, I pretty much knew this is where I was going to go,” said Bosa, who is considered one of the best players in the nation. “I looked at my options and my mind really never got changed throughout this whole process.”
Bruce, a four-star receiver who reaffirmed his pledge to the Hurricanes last week, added Wednesday was a relief. “I feel really relieved to put that pen to that paper and send it off,” said Bruce, who wore a pair of Hurricanes gloves, a Miami-themed tie and his state championship medal around his neck.
Other St. Thomas football signees included: running backs Jaxson Kincaide and James Charles, offensive lineman Louis
Berkowitz, Dontye Carriere, DB Frank Coppett, safety Alvin Davis, kicker James McCourt, receiver Dominic Thieman and DE Colin Nance.
Clemson lands Creek’s Mullen
COCONUT CREEK — Trayvon Mullen, considered among the top cornerback prospects in the nation in the Class of 2016, had it down to five finalists on National Signing Day. Would it be Florida State, Clemson, LSU, Louisville or TCU?
The All-American from Coconut Creek High announced he would play for Clemson, the national runner-up.
Mullen held more than 45 scholarship offers. His size, speed and elite skill level attracted offers from most of the top programs in the nation.
“He’s a kid that has elite skills,” Creek coach Kareem Reid said. “He’s long, he’s fast. He can do whatever you want to on defense: play press man, play off zone, he’ll come up and tackle.”
Seven Coconut Creek players — including receiver Binjimen Victor (Ohio State) and Malek Young (Miami)— signed to play football with colleges.
— Pat Lammer
Burns to FSU
PLANTATION — American Heritage standout Brian Burns signed with Florida State on Wednesday morning, choosing the Seminoles over Florida and Georgia.
“I went through a real tough decision,” Burns said. “It was a real tough decision. I sat down and talked about with my parents, gave some deep thought to it and decided Florida State was the place for me.”
Burns anchored a stout defense that advanced to the Class 5A regional finals. He helped the Patriots win back-to-back state championships under former coach Mike Rumph in 2013 and 2014.
— Patrick Maks
Snelson picks UCF
PEMBROKE PINES — Dredrick Snelson had been a soft commitment to Minnesota since late October. The question: Would that stick on National Signing Day?
Instead, the Flanagan receiver picked Central Florida over the Gophers, Maryland, Penn State and Miami.
“I felt more comfortable,” Snelson said. “And I felt like they are going to do some big things with the program, and it’s close to home.”
Snelson, who helped Flanagan win a Class 8A state title — the first in school history — was part of a banner day for Flanagan as double-digit football players signed.
— Pat Lammer
Miramar moving on
MIRAMAR — Three Miramar seniors made their college choices on National Signing Day— CB Shemar Jean-Charles (Appalachian State), WR Kyle Anthony (Howard University) and OL Obinna Nwankwo (Florida A&M) — in a school auditorium packed with family, friends and teammates.
Four other Patriots — cornerback Korel Smith (FAU), linebacker Deshondre Pitts (West Florida), defensive lineman Terrelle Lucas (Duke) and running back Gregori McCrae (Navy) reaffirmed initial pledges.
“For us it is really wonderful to see our students grow throughout the year,” principal Maria Formoso said. “They are not just athletes, they are scholar athletes.”
For Miramar’s standouts, signing day comes after a junior season to forget when former coach Matt Strout was embroiled at the center of a wide-ranging investigation into Miramar’s football program.
— Gary Curreri
Weaver finds new home
COOPER CITY — Just a little more than a week after decommitting from Michigan, smarting from what he sawas the Wolverines’ neglect, Cooper City DE Rashad Weaver committed to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
“It’s just a program on the rise,” said Weaver. “I think I can get in there early and make plays. The city — I really felt comfortable in and it’s a school I feel I could go to if I wasn’t playing football.”
Ranked a three-star recruit, Weaver was a longtime Michigan commit before backing off his pledge lastweek after the Wolverines told him they might not have room for in him in their 2016 signing class.
— Wells Dusenbury